Sri Lanka unfurls before the senses as soon you arrive: the heavy warm air, the endless array of rich green foliage, the luxuriant swirls of the Sinhalese alphabet, the multicolored Buddhist flags, and the variety of fruits, jewellery and spices on sale on the markets. Sri Lankan festivals announce themselves with multicolored lights strung over town clock towers and bazaar alleys.

Besides being endowed with World Heritage sites, golden beaches fringed with swaying coconut palms, hills resorts, breathtaking waterfalls, picturesque golf courses, spectacular wild life and mysterious ruins of 2000 years-old civilization, Sri Lanka has also emerged as the shopping destination for designers clothes, handicrafts, gems and best quality tea. Such diversity and attractions are not easily found anywhere else in the world.

One of the country's sweetest surprises is the way that wildlife mixes into daily life here.

Sri Lanka is shaped like a teardrop falling from the southern end of India. It stretches over 433km from north to south; it is only 244 at its widest point. Its area of about 66,000 sq km is about the same as that of Ireland or Tasmania.

The Cultural Triangle; Anarudhapura , Polonnaruwa and Kandy show how our kings ruled over our ancient kingdoms and how they lived. A visit to the ancient rock fortress, Singiriya, a man made wonder, is a must. For the more outdoor types, animal safaris and mountain and forest treks/hikes are numerous. The Sinharaja Rain Forest is Sri Lanka's largest natural rain forest and is home to many exotic and indigenous birds and animals.

The climate in a word is Tropical, with distinct dry and wet seasons. The seasons are slightly complicated by having two monsoons. From May to August the Yala monsoon brings rain to the southwestern half of the country, while the dry season here last from December to March.